Rating: 
Summary: Good idea gone bad.
Review: The thing I hate the most about movies is when Hollywood preaches to me about how I should live my life. However, the second most annoying thing is when Hollywood takes a good idea and turns it into something awful and formulaic. Such is the case with LXG.My knowlege of the novels upon which the characters are based aren't exactly up to snuff, but even I know that this movie destroyed the books. Dorian Gray did NOT die when he saw the painting. He looked at it all the time! He died when he destroyed the painting in the book. Mr. Hyde was NOT some massive hulk, he was just Jekyll's evil side, like an alternate personality. Not to mention Hyde became a good guy in the end of the flick, when Hyde is supposed to be purely nasty. The Nautilus is WAY too huge and WAY too gaudy. The invisibility potion rendered it's user insane over time, which obviously didn't happen to the invisible man in this one. And if Mina is a vampire, then why can she walk around in the sunlight? However, if you can look past all that, this movie still stinks. The plot must have been fed through Hollywood's Formul-o-matic screenwriting machine, because it follows the lame action genre formula to the letter. There's the mistrust between group members, the inevitable betrayals, the using of everyone's ability to get the job done, etc. It's the same kind of schlock Hollywood has been spoon-feeding the public for a long time. Sean Connery is too freaking old to play the action role. They have him running around, shooting at people and fistfighting. Right. He should have been slamming people with his walker and oxygen tank, then breaking his hip. It's obvious that there was NO research done for the making of this movie. Even the when people are speaking German, the subtitles are way off from what they're actually saying. The technology is far too advanced, and the characters are poorly represented. Don't even bother with this lame movie. It's just another bunch of Hollywood hacks trying to cheat you out of eight bucks.
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been better.
Review: The League of Extrodinary Gentlemen (LXG) was just not quite what I was expecting in an undifinable way. The many flaws of the characters from their original stories took a lot away from what could have been a very good movie. The characters were very far off from their orginal selves. Probably the most obvious was Mr. Edward Hyde/The Incredible Hulk. In the novel The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Louis Stevenson when Dr. Jekyll Drank the formula and transformed into Mr. Hyde he actually became a smaller person who made up for it by being extremely evil. Also towards the end of the book Dr. Jekyll went insane. And the Dr. Jekyll in the movie was perfectly right in the head. Also the so called "invisible man" was not the same person from H.G. Well's novel. Though they made up for this by saying that Rodney Skinner who portrays the invisible man in LXG stole the invisibility secret from a the original Invisibly Man. Next Mina Harker from Dracula written by Bram Stoker was bitten by Dracula just before they killed him but the book did not state that she could do things like turn into a flock of bats and transport herself then turn back. Though Dracula could turn into a meaning one "Bat." Next Ishmael was not the name of the Captain Nemo's first mate in 20,000 leagues under the sea written by Jules Verne. And Nemo himself had an unknown origin so it was presumptious of them to just have him assume to be an arab. The two characters who most closely follow their orignal stories are Allen Quatermain and Tom Sawyer. As these two individuals had no paranormal or supernatural abilities it was harder to mess them up. Allen Quatermain is from any number of H. Rider Haggard books (he is best known to be from "King Solomons Mines") and Tom Sawyer is a rural 19th century American boy from the Illinois area and was created by Mark Twain. As for Dorian Gray, I have not yet had the opportunity to read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde so i cannot state whether or not he followed his story. LXG had good intentions but I think they just went way over the top running rampid with the characters abilities. I am sure that it did appeal to some of the more illiterate tastless teens and young adults who are not well schooled and have no appreciation for classic Literature. As I am 14 years old myself it is rather odd for me to be writing such a thing, even though I have long thought this was so. Also I would like to add that I have not meant to stereotype anybody especially my friends so if the odd chance occurs that they read this know that I do not consider you to be part of the unread mob that flood our schools today. LXG does have some appeal I will grant it if you bypass in your mind the numerous flaws with story and character. If you have not read any of the books the characters originated from which I sure most young people who have seen haven't than this movie would most likely be very enjoyable. All in All I that this film had potential to be much better and if they would have taken a little more time with it and made the characters the way they are I think it would have been a much better movie in my opinion. Also to anyone who has not read the books I would strongly reccomend that you read them if you like old classic novels that tell wonderful tales.
Rating: 
Summary: 1/2 Stars See this on the BIG SCREEN!!!!
Review: I'm currently reading this graphic novel from which this movie was based upon so this review is strictly from my impression of the movie alone. Again as I mentioned in my review of "XMen 2" this is a movie to be seen on the big screen.
I saw this movie the same day I saw "Terminator 3" which I was disappointed in so I guess it all depends on where your mind is when you see movies. The individual introduction of each of the characters was "fun" I absolutely thought they selected the appropriate cast for each of these roles. From Alan Q. to the Invisible Man each of these actors were very convincing as their own UNUSUAL brand of Heroes and their many talents are only really shown I believe a total of 2 times in this movie. In this it reminds me of "X Men 2" each character only had a few instances to show their gifts/talents. The story is probably plausible for that era {Victorian Age} but maybe hard for the youngins of today to grasp. Captain Nemo's ship was Magnificent although I did wonder how was a ship so large able to get into the canals of Venice???? I gave it 3 1/2 Stars for the cinematography, the special effects and the casting. It is worth the price of a matinee, will I add this to my at home collection..... probably not this is one best seen on the big screen so if you are not viewing it in that content then you don't get the full effect. Not for young viewers there are some blood scenes with the Mina Harker that are pretty graphic and this guy takes all of Hydes potion and is pretty scary so if you have kids who suffer from nightmares over stuff like this I would steer clear of it. Respectfully Reviewed
Rating:
Summary: The Gentlemen should thank the Lady
Review: Although titled after the comic books from which it is adapted, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen should thank Mina Harker for being the one bright spot in this film. The portrayal by Peta Wilson is just menacing enough, and flip enough, to make her the most interesting on-screen presence. Taking its cue from Gotham City of the Batman movies, the settings are dark (with the exception of Africa, of course, and that only in the open air). Much of the action is predictable and the special effects and computer graphics don't add much. Except, again, in the case of Mina. Her split personality of sorts is a nice, if exaggerated touch. There was nothing in this movie a viewer could believe in: a car chase through the streets of Venice; a Nautilus nearly as large as an aircraft carrier; a Mr. Hyde, who was monster enough, being turned into a monster, etc. Although it must be admitted that the arguments between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were amusing. Unfortunately, there was just no substance here, even though there were many possibilities. The creators of this movie didn't understand who their audience would be.
Rating:
Summary: The Studio of Unextraordinary Moviemaking
Review: The plot is a good one: In 1899, even people with unusual and varied superpowers must unite to combat a mysterious man who wants to start a world war. The seven superheroes are all famous literary characters from the time period. Or they're supposed to be. But someone should inform writer Bram Stoker that Mina Harker is a vampire; he wasn't at all aware when he wrote "Dracula". Jules Verne would have been fascinated to see the "real" Natilus, which is the length of several football fields and many stories high. Mister Hyde, it seems, has become a giant monkey-like thing with a top hat. Perhaps I missed this little detail when I read the book. Tom Sawyer has grown up from his childhood to become a dashing young gunslinging spy, even though by 1899 he should be over 40 years old. Anyway, these seven quetsionably-literary characters all unite to combat the Phantom, who has been trying to spark World War 1 a decade too early, and profit off selling his highly-advanced arms. His weapons include tanks, automatic rifles and computer-guided fly-by-wire rocket launchers. I realize it is a superhero movie type thing and it's not supposed to make sense, but somehow I can't believe that the mysterious Phantom obtained computer-guided wire missles fourty years before the advent of digital computing and sixty years before the microchip was invented, and ninety years before computers became fast enough to do that kind of stuff. The fun continues. The Phantom, a cliched figure with a mask and a very ugly eyeball, and the seven gentlemen of the League face off in very ugly action sequences. Apparently the director, when the producer told him to "film an action sequence", took this to mean "run around with the camera in hand while having seizures." Because that's what it seems like: the camera goes all over the place and cuts between scenes every two or so frames. And then the viewer is subjected to some of the most over-computerized special effects that were ever seen. What happens between the action sequences? Some of the most terrible dialogue to grace a movie screen. One charachter, upon attempting to pierce Mina Harker's vampiric heart with a stake, comments that "I've always wanted to nail you" in a sexual manner. Or something like that. I can't remember the details because my brain is blocking the memories in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. There is some fun to be had in the movie, generally when Sean Connery is speaking in the rare moments he isn't given bad dialogue. Or the couple action sequences that actually make sense. But these moments are few and far between. Don't waste your money on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Great Move,Very Weird Title.
Review: I'm going in order what the movie is like. It starts like this the madman called "The Phantom" destroys this one place saying "I'm going to start World War 3" Sean Conery first is in a bar and some guy comes in to tell him the plot. Then some bad guys come into the bar and Conery fights them and chokes them to death. Then he comes in there and gets a vampire,an immortal man,The Invisable Man,The Monster man,Captain Nemo and Tom Sawyer. They travel to Venice to try to destroy The Phantom. For some reason the boss and the immortal man betrays them they have a big fight with the same exact people. Sean Conery dies at the end of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun or dreck depends on your mindset...
Review: This is what's called in the trades a "high concept" film. Yeah, I know it was a comic book first, but the whole concept is a totally outlandish "what if..." contrivance. I knew this going in and adjusted my expectations accordingly. Despite the bad reviews and bad word-of-mouth, I really had a good time! Yeah, it's silly and there are lots of obvious lapses and holes in the plot and execution, but it was fun and succeeded in entertaining me in spite of them. In the end, I think it was the fact that it was so totally over-the-top that won me over. Interestingly, I was impressed by things that the film makers seem to have considered throw aways. Having Alan Quartermain, Captain Nemo, and Dorian Gray among the characters was OK, but having the chutzpah to include Mina Harker in the group really sold it to me - she and Dorian gray were by far the most interesting characters in the group. The sly (and not so sly) references to other fictions and films were entertaining. They had the guts to make the silly parts really silly and play them straight without winking at the audience, which is just what the material needed. Also, just like two of my favorite TV series, "Wild Wild West" and "The Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr", the anachronisms of setting it in 1899 was fun. What was silliest? Probably everything involving the Nautilus or Captain Nemo's other technological anachronisms. We simply don't want to ask how he can drive a submarine which appears to be about 1/3 the length of the Titanic into the Venetian canals. We also aren't supposed to wonder how vampire Mina can survive in the sunlight. About the only thing that really didn't work was the CGI Mr. Hyde who was essentially a Hulk clone. OK, so you've been warned... If after reading this, you still think you might be able to get into the spirit of it, I recommend you see it. OTOH, if you're reading this with your brow furrowed and your nose crinkled up, wondering what sort of over-medicated weirdo I am, then don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Made for the Illiterate Masses
Review: Okay, first things first - if you're going to use a literary character as your main character in a movie, let's please get his name right, people! It's "Quatermain," not "Quartermain." It was spelled right in the credits, but not on the gravestone, and was mispronounced throughout the entire film. Next, if you're going to use an infamous villain as your bad guy, EXPLAIN how he's infamous. James Moriarty is the man who killed Sherlock Holmes. I only know that because I'm a Sherlock Holmes fan - I've actually READ the books. Anybody who doesn't read the books will not have the foggiest clue who this man is and how "(gasp) James Moriarty!" is such a big deal. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't even matter anyway because Doyle brought Holmes back anyway, so he wasn't actually killed in the first place, making Moriarty's infamy null and void, but that's another story. And Edward Hyde was turned into the Hulk. In the actual Robert Louis Stevenson book, he was much smaller than Henry Jekyll because he was the evil side that had never been used and was therefore undeveloped. But that doesn't make money, does it? Plus the fact that Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde both died at the end of the book anyway... Captain Nemo was also not an Arab. His nationality was unknown. And Ishmael was NOT his first mate - Ishmael wasn't even from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, he was from Moby Dick! Also, just little "duh" things here - the Nautilus would have never fit through the waterways of Venice, it's impossible. Plus, in the first shot where the Nautilus surfaces in front of the League for the first time beside the little pier in the marina - that must have been one bloody deep marina for that large a submarine to have pulled right up to the dock UNDERWATER without running aground. And the car - okay, I can kind of let it slide, what with Verne's original idea of Nemo being ahead of his time with technology, but there is no way Tom Sawyer would have known how to drive the thing so well, particularly when he didn't even know what it was at first. It's very obvious that this movie was made for illiterate teenagers who have never read the actual classics that these characters come from, and therefore they will not care that these characters' integrities have been traded in for loud guns, big explosions and a super fast, ahead-of-its-time, 19th century gangster car. And it's sad that I say that, since I'm a teenager myself. At least I'm well-read. I found this movie stupid, barbaric and a waste of time. It was almost as bad as Rollerball. I was disgusted by the blatant changes made to the characters and came out of the theatre furious at how the filmakers had mutated my favorite literature. And again - you'd think they could at least get the main character's name right!!! Particularly since it IS in a book, very easy to look up! ... Don't waste your time on this unless you have not read the classic books, do not plan to ever read the classic books, and like big guns and explosions. It's an insult to people's intelligence (not to mention incredibly disrepectful to Jules Verne, Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, Oscar Wilde, H. Rider Haggard, Arthur Conan Doyle, Herman Melville, and H. G. Wells).
Rating:
Summary: Only kind of "Extraordinary"
Review: Don't quite give up on the comic-books-turned-movies franchises yet. If you're sick of the latest spandex hero fighting the forces of evil, LXG might give you a little refreshment. While deeply flawed in some areas, it's a lot more unique and possibly more entertaining. (Especially if you are a "book" person) It's 1899. A monstrous tank barrels through London and into a bank, where special diagrams are stolen. In Germany, Zeppelins are blown up. The world is on the brink of a widespread war, and a horribly scarred, masked Phantom is the one responsible. So the British government calls on Allen Quatermain (Sean Connery), a reclusive hunter with many amazing adventures behind him, and asks him to help England. He's about to refuse, but a firefight and a bombed-out club change his mind. He arrives in London to join the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), a vampire, an invisible thief, Skinner (Tony Curran), and Captain Nemo, a pirate (Naseeruddin Shah). They try to recruit Dorian Grey (Stuart Townsend), a beautiful and dissolute immortal, but are attacked in his home -- and aided by a young American agent, Tom Sawyer (Shane West). After recruiting Dr. Jekyll (Jason Flemyng) and his alter ego Mr. Hyde (also Jason Flemyng), the League is on its way to Venice, to protect an international conference from destruction by the Phantom. But the League soon learns that their situation is much more complex -- and that one of them cannot be trusted. To some degree, this movie is in a "league" of its own. Most comic books center on people given or born with extraordinary powers, but not much else. LXG, instead, focuses on characters who already existed, ranging from the bizarre (Mina the vampire, Dorian Grey) to the obscure (Allen Quatermain -- how many people reading this have read H. Rider Haggard?). As a result, it may be the only truly literary comic book adaptation. It's a motley crew, but somehow they fit. Unfortunately, while the literary references are solid enough, the plot is not really smart -- the good guys are hunting down the bad guy, who is trying to rule the world. It's fun if you switch off your brain and just watch. It can't be denied that the action scenes and fight sequences are amazing. Some of the characters are given more development, like Quatermain, who is still torn up over the loss of his son. For better-known people like Mina Harker ("Dracula") and Tom Sawyer, not so much introduction is necessary. Not a huge amount of character development, but since these characters are already known to us, they feel good anyway. The identity of the Phantom (another literary character) is a genuine surprise (a good one, too), and the identity of the traitor becomes evident when you think carefully. Among the problems are the special effects -- Hyde's first scene is particularly bad, and some of the transformations are unconvincing. And some of the shots of the Nautilus and the tank (looked like a miniature), not to mention the flaming zeppelins, were very unconvincing. The first shot of the Phantom's fortress is enough to make you groan. That said, the follow-up shots of the fortress are lovely, and the Nautilus is (mostly) enticingly gorgeous and lush. (I want to live on the Nautilus -- that thing is absolutely beautiful) Connery proves that he's still a great presence at 70 plus. (He keeps beating up bad guys, and it never seems improbable) Wilson seems completely befuddled as to how to play Mina; Townsend is deliciously foppish and disdainful; Shah is likably dignified and solid; West is okay, not exceptional but not bad (he's at his best when bonding with Connery); Jason Flemyng is excellent as either incarnation of Jekyll/Hyde, switching between savagery and torment. And Curran steals every scene he's in -- or isn't in. Even though he's only a voice half the time, he's hilarious. (One of the funniest scenes is when Quatermain kicks the invisible Skinner out of his office) Despite the respectable and brainy background of these characters, LXG isn't a smart movie. It's not really dumb either. Consider it a James Bond movie if you took out Bond and populated it with classic characters. Amusing for fans of classic fantasy/scifi/horror, and an entertaining action flick overall.
Rating:
Summary: I wouldn't Join This League of Superduds
Review: Am I the only one who thinks the summer movies of 2003 have been a serious letdown? After sitting through a bunch of under-performing high concept pictures I long for the summers of ID4 and AUSTIN POWERS. This weekend was no exception as I watched one of the stupidest high concept pictures since THE AVENGERS. Picture if you will for a moment an intriguing idea, A concept that probably looked really great on paper. Picture action, adventure, fantasy, and fun and then watch as Hollywood mucks it up one more time. That what you get when you pay your nine bucks for THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN. The film begins with an interesting idea. It's 1899 and the world is on the brink of word war thanks to a weapons dealer named `The Phantom.' He set all the countries in the world against each other and it's up to a bunch of literary super-hero's to save the day. They are led by Alan Quatermain (Sean Connory, Entrapment), you know the British adventurer who opened King Solomon's mine and discovered that lost city of gold. The Leagues other members are Captain Nemo (Naseeuruddin Shah, Monsoon Wedding), Mina Harker (Peta Wilson, Mercy) (You Know, Dracula's old flame), The Invisible Man (Tony Curran, Blade II) Dorian Grey (Stuart Townshend, Queen of the Damned), Tom Sawyer (Shane West, A Walk To Remember), and Dr. Jekyll (Jason Flymyng, From Hell). Together they go on an adventure; to bad they didn't invite me. THE LEAGUE is a mess of a story. Instead of following a plot, or introducing us to characters, what we get is a loud, noisy, and disjointed piece of trash. This film doesn't even give us one decent fight sequence, or even a little wink and a laugh. THE LEAGUE is no fun at all. The First Problem Are there no good fight choreographers left in Hollywood? This films idea of a fight scene is to shake the camera around and make sword noises a lot, while people fight in the dark. Hence you're never quite sure anything is going on. For all those people who didn't like the fight scenes in THE MATRIX RELOADED because they looked fake and computer animated. I take a guy who looks like a computer any day of the week over this brand of sloppy filmmaking. The Second Problem While the idea of a team of literary superheroes works good in comic books, it translates horribly to screen. There are too many people and the story isn't strong enough to support them. This film has all the weaknesses of the first X-MEN movie, with none of the charm. By the time you've tried to figure out who is who and what they've done the movies over. This all leads to the final problem.... The Final Problem This films plot is so convoluted and silly. It makes you leap miles without explaining a thing. Characters walk in and disappear, and then as plot twist introduces subplots, they are either glossed over or made inconsequential. Half the time I was wondering where one character was. Then it turned out they made him leave the story so he could be a suspect. I hate it when they do that. It almost seems like there are probably another hour or so of deleted scenes that would clear everything up. But I sure don't want to watch them. This movie is undefendable unless you want to say the first 10 or 15 minutes are pretty good. After that it's just stupid. Don't go see THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN.
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